New England Music Festival Association, Inc. | |
June 2026 | Volume XC, No. 3 | | |
Jennifer Chambers
New England Music Festival Association President
president@nemfa.org
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President's Letter to the Membership
New England Music Festival Association
June 19, 2026
A Note from Your President
Jennifer Chambers
President’s Message Summer 2026
Dear NEMFA Members,
As we begin the summer months, I hope this message finds you well and enjoying a well-deserved season of rest, reflection, and renewal after another meaningful year of music-making with your students.
It is an honor to write to you as President of the New England Music Festival Association. For those I have not yet met, my name is Jennifer Chambers. I am the Founder and Head of School of New England School of the Arts, a former Music Coordinator at Hanover High School, and a current member of the New Hampshire All-State Choral Committee. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve NEMFA and to work alongside so many dedicated music educators across New England. Please join me in thanking our immediate Past-President, John Deeb, for the four years that he served with distinction as our NEMFA President as well.
I am also delighted to introduce our President-Elect, Dr. Eddie Wilkin. Eddie is a passionate conductor, educator, pianist, and speaker whose work centers on helping students and educators connect more deeply with music, creativity, and their authentic selves. He currently serves as Band Director at Cyrus Peirce Middle School in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and is the founder of Lighthouse Education and Coaching, the Nantucket Island Youth Orchestra, and several meaningful community music initiatives. Eddie brings a generous spirit, deep experience, and a strong commitment to music education, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside him as NEMFA moves into this historic 100th anniversary year.
Before looking ahead, I want to offer sincere thanks to everyone who helped make this past year’s NEMFA events such a success.
We are especially grateful to Lyvie Beyrent and her team for hosting this year’s festival in Gilford, New Hampshire. Their leadership, hospitality, and careful planning helped create a welcoming and meaningful experience for our students, educators, and families. We continue to look for hosts for future festivals so please reach out should the interest be there!
I also want to thank Rob Gattie and Steffen Parker for their important work in bringing the Solo and Ensemble Festival back to Hartford High School as a northern site, while continuing our valued partnership with Griswold High School as the southern site. Their efforts have helped strengthen access and opportunity for students across our region, and we are deeply appreciative of their continued service to NEMFA.
As we look ahead, we do so with great excitement and gratitude. In March of 2027, NEMFA will celebrate its 100th anniversary, a truly historic milestone for our association. This banner year will take place at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts, one of New England’s most beautiful and acoustically treasured performance spaces. It is difficult to imagine a more fitting setting to honor a century of student musicianship, dedicated music educators, and the lasting impact of this organization.
As we prepare for this milestone, I am reminded that NEMFA’s strength has always come from its members, the educators who give their time, energy, care, and expertise to their students, their schools, and this association. For 100 years, NEMFA has created spaces where young musicians can grow, connect, challenge themselves, and experience the joy of making music at a high level with peers from across New England.
Thank you for all you do to sustain this tradition. I look forward to working alongside you as we honor NEMFA’s remarkable history and look toward its next chapter with gratitude and purpose.
With appreciation,
Jenny
Jennifer Chambers - President
New England Music Festival Association
president@nemfa.org
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A Note from Dr. Eddie Wilkin re: A Professional Development Opportunity at 2027 NEMFA Concert Festival
In 2027, I am able to offer a PD opportunity for college credits (3 Graduate Credits). I know the challenge becomes increasingly difficult for educators to attend the festival when there is "no" PD attached or when it is "not" a PD event. This will be presented under the auspices of Castleton University. Specific details about the course will be provided in a future Bulletin.
Who Should Take This Course:
This course is designed for music educators, graduate students, and anyone passionate about music education.
Professional Development Options:
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3 Graduate Credits: Credits issued from Castleton University.
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Certificate of Attendance: For those seeking professional development without graduate credit.
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1-Credit Independent Study: For those interested in further exploration (pending approval from Castleton).
Course Cost for 3 Credits: $2,000 (includes all course materials).
(Please reach out if the full cost is not covered by your school!)
I hope all is well - please reach out if you have any questions!!!
Keep Smiling,
Dr. Eddie Wilkin (reach Eddie by email here)
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Anthony Brackett
NEMFA Orchestra Manager
ambclarinet@gmail.com
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March 2027 Orchestra Conductor
Dear NEMFA Members,
I am thrilled to announce that John Eells will be our orchestra director for the 100th anniversary concert. John is no stranger to NEMFA, and as always, selected a wonderfully colorful and celebratory program. We open with The Bamboula by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Coleridge-Taylor, an English-African composer, wrote this work in 1910 as one of 24 Negro Melodies, celebrating the music of Africans. He wrote, “What Brahms has done for the Hungarian folk music, Dvorak for the Bohemian, and Grieg for the Norwegian, I have tried to do for these Negro Melodies.” The work was commissioned by Mr. & Mrs. Carl Stoeckel, American arts patrons and founders of the Norfolk Music Festival in Connecticut which is now run by Yale University. It is beautiful, splashy and fun!
Cakewalk was commissioned by the New York City Ballet. The music is based on 19th-century piano pieces by Louis Moreau Gottschalk and brilliantly orchestrated by Hershy Kay, who scored several ballets for NYCB. The ballet Cakewalk premiered in June of 1951. In Cakewalk you will hear references to the Bamboula.
The program will conclude with Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestral suite Capriccio Espagnol, and like the other works in our program, is based on folk melodies, this time from Spain. Premiered in 1887 by the Imperial Orchestra in St. Petersburg, Russia, this virtuoso work has prominent solos and cadenzas for solo violin, clarinet, flute, English horn and harp with many exciting moments for the strings, brass and percussion. Students will get quite the workout in this piece but it will all be worth it for the standing ovation delivered by the audience.
To read Mr. Eells' full bio, please click here.
Sincerely.
Tony Brackett
Anthony Brackett is the Orchestra Manager.
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Angelica Jackson, Kevin Lam
NEMFA Band Managers
bandmanager@nemfa.org
| | | | March 2027 Band Conductor | |
Celebrating a Historic Milestone
The 100th NEMFA Band Festival Conductor
Hello NEMFA community!
The New England Music Festival is proud to celebrate a truly historic milestone this year as we welcome our 100th Band Festival Conductor, the internationally acclaimed composer and conductor Randall Standridge.
As Band Managers, we are honored to share this extraordinary moment with our organization. For a century, NEMFA has united some of New England’s finest young musicians, offering transformative musical experiences under the guidance of distinguished conductors whose artistry and leadership have shaped generations of performers.
What makes this year especially meaningful is the remarkable connection between our past and present. One hundred years ago, the inaugural NEMFA Band Festival was conducted by John Philip Sousa, one of the most influential figures in American musical history. To now welcome Randall Standridge as our 100th conductor is a powerful testament to the enduring legacy, excellence, and vitality of our organization.
Randall Standridge is among the most celebrated voices in the band world today. His music is performed by ensembles around the globe, inspiring musicians of all ages through its creativity, emotional depth, and artistic vision. His unwavering commitment to music education has made a lasting impact on countless students and educators. Having a conductor of his stature lead our festival during this landmark year is both a tremendous honor and a reflection of the reputation and tradition that NEMFA has cultivated over the past century.
In recognition of this historic occasion, we have assembled a concert program that celebrates both the exceptional talent of our student musicians and the rich heritage of the festival itself. We hope audiences will experience not only an unforgettable performance, but also a sense of the legacy that has brought us to this moment and the promise that will carry NEMFA into its next century of musical excellence.
Band Program
American Salute, Morton Gould
Opa!, Julie Giroux
Animations (Episode 1: WABBIT!), Randall Standridge
Symphony no. 1: a ghost story, Mvt. 1: Unquiet, Randall Standridge
The Stars and Stripes Forever, John Philip Sousa
We invite everyone to join us in celebrating this extraordinary milestone. The 100th New England Music Festival represents far more than a number, it represents a century of musical excellence, educational impact, and memories that have shaped countless lives throughout New England.
To read Mr. Standridge's full bio, please click here.
We look forward to welcoming Randall Standridge and sharing this historic celebration with all of you.
Angelica Jackson and Kevin Lam
NEMFA Band Managers
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Bridgett Gattie, Aimee Omeara
NEMFA Chorus Managers
chorusmanager@nemfa.org
| | | | March 2026 Chorus Conductor | |
Dear NEMFA Members,
We are happy to report that Dr. Sandra Snow will be the conductor of the 2026 NEMFA Chorus. Dr. Snow is the Director of Choral Activities at the Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. directing the University Chorale, Women’s Choir, and Choral Society. As Professor of Choral Conducting, Director of Choral Programs, and Chair of the Conducting Area at the Michigan State University College of Music, she has led the MSU Women’s Chamber Ensemble to appearances as featured performers at American Choral Directors Association conventions at state, regional, and national levels. As guest conductor, she travels extensively in North America and abroad.
For information about Dr. Snow, please click here .
We look forward to another great year of music making with the 2027 NEMFA Chorus!
Best,
Bridgett Gattie and Aimee Omeara
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Wayne Splettstoeszer
NEMFA Jazz Ensemble Manager
jazzbandmanager@nemfa.org
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March 2027 Jazz Ensemble Conductor
Dear NEMFA Members,
The New England Music Festival Association is proud to present the fourth NEMFA Jazz Ensemble, which will be conducted by John Fedchock. Mr. Fedchock is the leader of the critically acclaimed John Fedchock New York Big Band. Fedchock began his career with the legendary Woody Herman Orchestra, touring with the "Thundering Herd" for seven years as a featured soloist and musical director. An internationally touring artist, Fedchock has performed at major festivals and concert halls globally, both as a solo guest artist and alongside jazz icons such as Gerry Mulligan, Louie Bellson, T.S. Monk, and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Fedchock holds degrees in Music Education and Jazz Studies from The Ohio State University, and a master’s degree from the prestigious Eastman School of Music. He is an in-demand clinician conducting university workshops nationwide, and his compositions are published by Jazzlines Publications, Kendor Music, and Walrus Music.
To read Mr. Fedchock's full bio, click here.
The concert program will be announced later.
Wayne Splettstoeszer is the Jazz Ensemble Manager.
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In the past 15 months, the New England Music Festival Association lost two very special people just before our centennial year of 2027.
On April 24, 2026, Grace V. Reidy of Ware, Massachusetts passed away on April 24, 2026 at the age of 94. She was a great friend of NEMFA and served as the first woman to serve as the President of the New England Music Festival Association.
She served NEMFA with distinction and dignity, as she did with every music education association in which she served, including President of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, co-Founder of the Quabbin Valley Music Educators Association along with her colleague John Hansen at Quabbin Regional High School in Barre, Massachusetts, another NEMFA participant, Founder of the United States Youth Ensembles European Concert Tours and and an active member of ACDA - The American Choral Directors' Association.
Upon graduating from Hardwick High School in 1949 where she was a stand-out academic, star athlete and accomplished musician, Grace was accepted to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
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She graduated as the salutatorian of her class in the spring of 1953 with a Bachelor of Music Degree.
For ten years while raising her five children, Grace taught elementary through high school music in the towns of Ware, Hardwick, Hubbardston, North Brookfield, and Sterling. In 1968 Grace became the Choral Director at Quabbin Regional High School in Barre, MA. While there she created the select vocal group the Quabbin Singers. This superior ensemble became the foundation of Grace’s professional pattern of excellence, benefitting all students who experienced her as a teacher and conductor. She, along with Quabbin band director John Hansen founded the Quabbin Valley Music Educators Association, a professional teacher’s group which is still active in hosting a yearly music festival for students, now in its 54th year. In 1972 Grace became the director of choral music at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, MA introducing a choral program that did not previously exist and developing it into a nationally recognized standard over her 22-year tenure. A very special lasting legacy for Grace at Wachusett was her creation of the annual Madrigal Dinner. Begun in 1982, the current music faculty (led now by a former student of Grace) celebrated its 44th production this past January.
Another hallmark of Grace’s career was her volunteerism. Grace served as Central District Chairperson and later as President of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association. She was also the first woman to become President of the New England Music Festival Association, an organization she herself participated in as a student, with a certificate signed by John Philip Sousa.
She was a dedicated member of the American Choral Directors Association, Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity, and served as an officer to the Quabbin Valley festival for the entirety of her high school teaching career. Upon retirement in 1993 Grace was named a recipient of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Lowell Mason Award and in 1999 she was presented with the state’s highest individual award, the MMEA Distinguished Service Award. Impressively, even before she retired, in 1998 Grace founded the United States Youth Ensembles European Concert Tour, with great support and assistance from her husband Jack.
Grace is survived by NEMFA member Margaret Reify (Cynthia) and recently retired music director of the Minnechaug Regional High School, Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District and a resident of Palmer, Massachusetts; her other four children: Mary Catherine Salo (Steve) of Boynton Beach, FL Rosemary Osann (Rick) of Bar Harbor, ME Francis Reidy (Deborah) of Land O Lakes, FL and John Reidy (Mary) of Southwest Harbor, ME; six grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
| | | Lowell Mason House Report | | |
LOWELL MASON HOUSE MOVES FORWARD
[Medfield, Massachusetts] – The Lowell Mason House is excited to announce in June 2026 that it is has received a major grant of $98,700 which will be matched 1 to 1 by the LMH Board from the Mass Cultural Council to construct an access tower addition that will provide for code-compliant stair access and an elevator to the entire building. Specs for an elevator for the facility have been completed and an ADA Compliant Wing has been designed... we are now entering the permitting phase of the project to allow us to begin construction. This addition is the key to making the house handicapped-accessible, allowing the house to be enjoyed by all without worrying about physical impediments.
The LMH is embarking on a major Capital Campaign called "Fund to the Finish" to raise the needed funds to complete the project in order for it to be opened to the public.Video interior room renderings have been developed for the Lowell Mason House presentations as the group moves into the beginnings of a $600,000 Capital Campaign which will provide the necessary funds to complete the building and turn it into a music education advocacy center. Grant funding for the planning of this addition has been provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, a program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts administered through a collaborative arrangement between Mass Development and the Mass Cultural Council.
Thanks to Will and Caleb Mason, direct descendants of Lowell Mason, the LMH recently added to its collection the Mason & Hamlin piano built for Lowell Mason’s grandson Henry Lowell Mason. It was built in 1929 as the last one built before the family sold the business, was voiced by noted pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, and kept within the Mason Family. It is temporarily living at St. Edward the Confessor’s RC Church in Medfield until the LMH opens to the public! The LMH also recently accepted the donation of a 1902 Mason & Hamlin upright piano that will be fully restored and placed in one of the practice rooms that is doubling as a score study room for directors of choral, orchestral, wind band, and jazz ensembles. A variety of scores and music resource books are also being donated for that room as well.
The Mission of the Lowell Mason House is to create and program an active space for music making, music and arts education advocacy, and historical preservation within the original structure of the Lowell Mason birthplace. The architecturally significant house was already decades old when Lowell Mason was born in 1792. Portions of the house have been age dated using dendrochronology to 1651, making the house among the oldest in Massachusetts and North America. The Lowell Mason House has raised over $900,000.00 up to this date for the purpose of turning it into a study, collections, practice/chamber performance space, and a meeting place for arts education advocates. We are grateful to the music educators associations around the United States that have made contributions towards its restoration, including the New England Music Festival Association. Your continued interest and support in this project is very much appreciated.
Thank you for considering making a tax deductible donation today. Please make checks payable to: The Lowell Mason House, P. O. Box 913 Medfield, MA 02052. If you prefer, you may also donate directly online by going to our website at http://www.lowellmasonhouse.net . Your contribution is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution to the extent provided by U.S. tax.
| | John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band Festival - Upcoming Dates: July 12-15, 2026 | |
| |  | THE JOHN PHILIP SOUSA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL HONOR BAND WILL BE HELD FROM JULY 12-15, 2026 in Massachusetts This is the 16th biannual edition since 1981 of the John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band for 2026, showcasing high achieving musicians from across the US. Michael J. Colburn, former conductor of the "President's Own" United States Marine Band and former New England Music Festival Association Guest Conductor and Student member from Vermont will again lead the 2026 John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band Festival. Rehearsals will be held at the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Boxborough, MA from July 12-15 and then a final performance will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at 7:00pm in Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608. The musical ensemble opening this concert will be The Concord Band of Concord, MA, in honor of America's 250th anniversary celebration. Mechanics Hall also was the site where the original Sousa Band presented concerts from the 1892 to 1928.
Tickets for this special event may be ordered by going to the Mechanics Hall Box Office at https://mechanicshall.org/event/jps2026/ . Keep watching the Honor Band website for breaking news about the 2026 Sousa National Honor Band being held on July 12-15, 2026. at https://www.sousanhsband.com.
BAND WEBSITE:
https://www.sousanhsband.com
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The 2024 John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band - July 17, 2024, Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA.
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Meghan Ferris Web Design - meghaneferris@gmail.com | | | | |
